A STOURBRIDGE volunteer who has tirelessly championed the town’s waterways and the Severn Valley Railway has been praised for his dedicated efforts over more than half a century.

Chris Dyche, a long-standing trustee at Stourbridge Navigation Trust which manages The Bonded Warehouse, has been congratulated by his colleagues at the trust on being recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

Mr Dyche, of Amblecote, was among 50 residents from each of the seven boroughs of the West Midlands to be honoured for their voluntary service in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the county of the West Midlands.

He was among those invited to a gathering in the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham on June 23, accompanied by his daughter Sharon Steventon to be recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree CVO OBE.

Following the event, his colleagues at Stourbridge Navigation Trust have told how pleased and proud they were to see Mr Dyche honoured for his tireless service to the community.

Lance Cartwright, a trustee at Stourbridge Navigation Trust, said: “It is so pleasing to all of the fellow trustees at SNT and indeed the Severn Valley Railway to see him honoured at such a high-profile event for his significant voluntary efforts.

“Chris has made a massive difference to the community and is an exemplary example of volunteering.

“His voluntary work started at least 50 years ago as a member of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society (SWCS) from the early 1970s.

“During the 1970s he was a member of the society’s Stourbridge Sub-Committee and involved in the early restoration work on the Stourbridge Town Arm Canal when the canal was totally unavailable and the towpath was impassable in places.

“He then became treasurer of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society in June 1979, a position he held until June 2020 before a step up to chairman of SWCS for four years in early 2001 – 2004.

“Following this, he also served a year’s term as the society’s president and is now a society vice president.

“Ultimately, he was awarded membership of the society in 2008.

“When Stourbridge Navigation Trust was formed as a stand-alone organisation circa 1984 he became trust treasurer. Stourbridge Navigation Trust Ltd incorporated in 2002 and he became financial director, a post he still holds today.

“He also serves as financial director of Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd - a full-owned subsidiary of Stourbridge Navigation Trust Ltd.

“He is actively involved in most of Stourbridge Navigation Trust’s activities including holding key responsibilities for the trust’s Annual Open Weekend from which started in 1983 and runs to date.

“Chris was an ordinary member of the Severn Valley Railway from the late 1960s and became a regular volunteer at Kidderminster station as a booking office clerk since 1996.

“He rose to the position of chairman of the SVR’s Stourbridge Branch for about the last 15 years.

“You can just imagine the time and effort that Chris has selflessly put into these organisations and surely they would be lesser entities if he had not been around.

“Once again hearty and well-deserved congratulations to Chris who has volunteered with SNT for the whole of the 50 years and more.

“He confesses to being a bit overwhelmed by this recognition, as he isn’t an accolade person, but he did report that he thoroughly enjoyed the event at which he was accompanied by his proud daughter Sharon.”